Stranded ship passengers down to 842 as 'Pepeng' moves northward

Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said as of 4 a.m. Saturday, the number of stranded passengers in Bicol and Southern Tagalog went down to 2,492 from 3,025.

At 8 a.m., the number of stranded passengers further declined to 842 people.

Reports said of the 842 passengers, there were 219 people in Tabaco town in Albay, 30 in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, 17 in Pio Duran, Albay, 139 in Bulan, Sorsogon, and 228 in Matnog, Sorsogon.

While in the Southern Tagalog Region, there were still 142 people in Dalahican port in Lucena and 67 in Puerto Real, both in Quezon province.

Balilo expressed optimism that the figures would continue to decrease as the PCG district in Bicol gave the go signal for the vessels to sail.

As of 8 a.m. the PCG said the number of stranded trucks was tallied at 103. There were also 35 cars, 45 passenger buses, five rolling cargoes, 15 vessels and 12 motorized bancas. There were also two vessels that took shelter. (PNA)